01-19-1999 - BKK Landfill Closure Plans Status Report•
To: City Council and City Manager
From: Environmental Management Department
Subject: BKK Landfill Closure Plans
Status Report
City of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO. B-6h
DATE January 19. 1999
®PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
Summary: This is an updated report on the STATUS OF PLANS FOR BKK
LANDFILL CLOSURE and other related BKK matters. This is a
part of the City program to keep the community informed of the
progress toward implementation of the closure plans for the BKK
Landfill.
Summary of Activities
The latest edition of the STATUS OF PLANS FOR BKK LANDFILL CLOSURE is
attached.. This is a part of the City. Community Outreach Program to keep the community
informed of the progress toward implementation of the closure plans for the BKK
Landfill. Staff recommends the City Council receive and file this report.
The following is a list summarizing the BKK Landfill Closure Activities Progress for the
last 30 days. Any changes made from last months report will be in bold.
1. Ridgeline Grading Plans
2. Class III Landscape Plans
3. Class I Landscape Plans
4. Class I Landscape Screening Plans
5. Dust Control Plan
6. Class III Final Closure and Postclosure Plans
7. Class I Postclosure Plan
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file this report.
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Steven L. Samaniego, R.E.H.S.
Environmental Management Director
Attachment
bkk/stat28CC
SLS
1/11/99
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
STATUS OALANS FOR BKK LANDAPEL CLOSURE
as of January 11,1999
1.
GRADING PLAN
Grading of the Southwest ridge, continues.
2.
LANDSCAPING OF CLASS III LANDFILL
The landscape plan submitted by BKK is acceptable to the City subject to
modification of the Settlement Agreement to allow less than 7.5 feet of
vegetative soil thickness at the slope benches. City Staff approved the
landscape plan for Phase A, which covers approximately 32.3 acres of the
lower South and West slopes. Phase A landscape and irrigation was
completed July 1998.
The concern that has risen on the landscaping is BKK's method of weeding
by a weeder rather than by hand and lack of using a herbicide as required in
their plan. Weeding by hand would be a more selective weed control to
avoid damage to the new growth of the hydroseed plants.
The majority of the tree seeds in the hydroseed mix is not germinating.
Without the tree seed germination, the landfill will not meet the densely
planted fast growing forest type landscape as intended in the Landscaping
Plan.
Weeds are more abundant than the hydroseed mix plants on portions of
Slopes C, D and E. The weeds on these slopes were not removed before or
after hydroseeding, thus allowing for the weeds to be more abundant and
prominent than the hydroseed germinating plants. The weeds were allowed
to flower and seed. There are also many bare spots on the hydroseeded .
portions of slopes C, D and E that should be rehydroseeded. BKK is
currently manually weed pulling on Slope C, D, and E for preparation of
rehydroseeding. Weeding on Slope C has been completed.
BKK has proposed a change to the Landscape Plan by replacing the .
hydroseeding of some of the tree and shrub seeds with 5 and 15-gallon
container tree plantings. The proposal will add 15 additional tree and shrub
containers per acre to what is already approved. The Council has
accepted BKK's alternative hydroseeding proposal with minor
modifications. The City is waiting for BKK's acceptance on the City's
modifications.
3.
LANDSCAPING OF THE CLASS I LANDFILL
BKK submitted a revised plan on May 23, :1997, followed with tree root
growth data submitted on September 18, 1997. On June 25, 1998 the city
completed its review and submitted additional comments with suggested
language to this plan to resolve our comments. BKK responded on
September 18, 1998 to the City's comments and requested a meeting to
finalize the plan. Action pending is for City to coordinate the meeting.
BKK's application with the Water Board to revise their cogeneration
plant's waste discharge requirements (WDR) to. increase their limits on
salts has not been resolved. The City is opposed to the increase in the salts
due to the potential detrimental impacts salts have on the plants when the
wastewater is used in a blended irrigation water source. The City and BKK
have met to try and resolve this issue but have not reached a resolution.
BKK submitted to the city for approval, a draft proposal dated August 6,
1998 and under cover memo dated November 20, 1998 to incorporate into
the WDR, limits which would address our concerns. BKK's proposal is
under city review pending a response. The WDR revision will have to
BKKSTATUS28 Note: Class I = closed hazardous waste landfill. 1
SLS Class III = closed household waste landfill
1/11/99 DTSC =California Department of Toxic Substances Control
USEPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency
CIWMB = California Integrated Waste Management Board
STATUS OALANS FOR BKK LANDFO CLOSURE
as of January 11,1999
comply with CEQA. The city is closely monitoring this issue.
4.
LANDSCAPING TO SCREEN CLASS I DISPOSAL UNIT
BKK has installed landscaping which begins north of the weather station
and extends to the area above City Water Reservoir No. 2. BKK requested
a delay in the installation of the screening landscape to the south of the
Class I Landfill. BKK proposed the delay to allow time to consider the
possible installation of a major road to service the possible development
along Azusa Avenue. This proposed delay of the landscape installation
will be reviewed by legal counsel to assure conformance with the
settlement agreement.
On May 2, 1998, the City Council approved a deferral of the screening
landscape south of the Class I for a period of one year, (until June 2, 1999).
The deferral had conditions requiring temporarv'screening of the 'south side
with boxed trees with extensions on the deferral period if needed. BKK's
Class I temporary Screening Plan proposal dated June 30, 1998 was
approved by the Planning Department on August 6, 1998. The temporary
screening has been completed.
5.
DUST CONTROL
Plans and specifications for the irrigation system and the landscape
screening were found to conflict with existing underground utilities. The
design is to be adjusted to accommodate underground utilities. Once
revised plans are received, Planning Director can review for final approval.
BKK and the City are discussing the final design and schedule for
submittal. BKK wants the City to consider a delay on these improvements
subject to providing a bond or other security for this work. This plan is a
condition of the Settlement Agreement and is:pending legal review.
6.
CLASS III FINAL CLOSURE AND POSTCLOSURE PLAN
On January 14, 1998 the LEA has determined the Final Closure and
Postclosure Maintenance Plans to be accepted for the environmental review
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process through the Planning Department.
BKK has submitted the accepted Final Closure and Postclosure
Maintenance Plan to the City Planning Director as part of BKK's Specific
Plan Land Use Applications.
On December 7, 1998 the City Manager executed an agreement with
Environmental Science Associates for consulting services in the
preparation of an environmental impact report and health risk assessment
(EIR/HRA) for the BKK Class III final closure plan/final postclosure
maintenance plan and golf course/business park land use entitlements -in an
amount not to exceed $345,600.
Presuming no anticipated extensions, the project schedule would provide
for completion of the EIR/HRA by the end of September 1999.
Final cover soil placement, gas recovery system, irrigation system and
landscaping has been completed in Phase A (approximately 32.3 acres),
which includes the lower south and west portions of Maintenance, A, B, C,
D, and E Slopes.
Installation of final cover soil placement in Phase B is complete
BKKSTATUS28 Note: Class I =. closed hazardous waste landfill. 2
SLS Class III = closed household waste landfill.
1/11/99 DTSC = California Department of Toxic Substances Control
USEPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency
CIWMB = California Integrated Waste Management Board
STATUS OALANS FOR BKK LANDFO CLOSURE t
as of January 11,1999
l
(approximately 27.6 acres) which includes the upper south and west
portions of slopes C, D, E, F, G and H. Fine grading, storm drainage, gas
and irrigation system installation on Slopes C, H and I of Phase B remains
to be completed.
Phase C final cover soil installation activities continue. Phase C was
scheduled to be completed by December 1998. On November 30,1998
BKK submitted and updated revised closure construction schedule
extending their partial final closure schedule another nine months. The
Waste Management Enforcement Agency responded on December 3,
1998 requesting for a more detailed construction schedule listing the
components to each phase of BKK's schedule.
7. I CLASS I POSTCLOSURE PLAN
BKK submitted to DTSC on June 30, 1997 revisions to the Postclosure
Plan. The City submitted comments to DTSC on August 26, 1997. DTSC
has submitted suggested responses to the City's comments on March 11,
1998 which were unacceptable by the City. DTSC has met with the City to
discuss and address our comments. DTSC again, for the second time this
year, planned to go out for public notice in mid -November and hold a
,public hearing on December 10, 1998. November 6, 1998 DTSC again
cancelled all public notice plans. The reason for DTSC canceling the
public notice is that they have not complete-d.addressing all comments.
BKKSTATUS28 Note: Class I = closed hazardous waste landfill. 3
SLS Class III = closed household waste landfill.
1/11/99 DTSC = California Department of Toxic Substances Control
r USEPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency
CIWMB = California Integrated Waste Management Board